Steve Kasner

1. What area of Bellevue should the city focus more on and why?

Bellevue’s critical issues can be divided into two categories: city infrastructure and human infrastructure. As a growing urban area, Bellevue requires effective transportation infrastructure. Having a highly functional road and transit network is essential to maintaining an environment where people and businesses want to locate and remain. While council has worked to address this issue with Downtown Livability, increased capacity on I-405 and major roadway capacity projects, more attention should be focused on the safe and efficient movement of traffic throughout the city – including increased bike lanes, safe and accessible sidewalks, and more frequent bus service that meets the needs of all Bellevue residents. I will work to prioritize neighborhood street, sidewalk and bikeway improvements along with light rail that connects Bellevue with the region.

2. What social services do you think are lacking in the city and how would you work to bring them here?

The council should be addressing key human services issues facing Bellevue: affordable housing, sensitivity to neighborhoods, building needed infrastructure, prioritizing environmental issues and increasing funding for human service agencies. I would pursue new opportunities, including additional private public partnerships to integrate arts and culture, to build the needed downtown fire station and to address the need for affordable housing. One of my highest priorities is ensuring that people who work in Bellevue can find affordable housing close to their jobs. As a council member, I would support innovative methods to increase housing to meet community needs. I would enhance channels of communication to connect people to the services they need, and I would provide a welcoming and comfortable avenue of access to city and community services for those from diverse cultural backgrounds.

3. How has your involvement with the city prepared you to serve on the city council?

I have spent the last 20 years working at both the grassroots and at the appointed and elected levels to preserve and improve our quality of life in Bellevue. I chaired the Bellevue Parks and Community Services board, working with colleagues to preserve the beauty and accessibility of Bellevue’s environment for future generations. I played a key role in development of the South Bellevue Community Center and in the redevelopment of neighborhood infrastructure and shopping centers in Lake Hills. In my role as East Bellevue Community Council chair, I work with others to make land use decisions based on community input. I am a listener and a collaborator with a proven leadership record. I have always been accessible to my constituents and provided forums for all viewpoints to be discussed.